Kirkuk, a leading center for Iraq’s oil industry, has an Arab, Kurdish, and Turkish population. The central Government in Baghdad has refused to consider Kurdish control.

However, after the collapse of Iraqi forces in Mosul almost three weeks ago, Kurdish peshmerga forces moved into Kirkuk to prevent an insurgent entry into the city.

Insurgents Attack Army Camp South of Baghdad

Insurgents attacked an army camp east of Jurf al-Sakhar, 85 km (53 miles) south of Baghdad, on Saturday with mortars and RPGs.

Three police sources said at least 60 fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham were killed, along with more than 15 Iraqi security forces.

“The ISIS terrorists fired many mortars at the camp and then started their offensive. They managed to break into the camp but could not hold their positions due to army helicopters’ cover,” a police colonel said.

The troops moved north from Samarra, following the dropping of special forces inside Tikrit on Thursday. Snipers have taken positions on rooftops at Tikrit University, and helicopters attacked today as other troops were air-dropped north of the city.

Iraqi military spokesman General Qassim Atta claimed 29 insurgents were killed on Friday and opposition commanders were struggling because “their morale has started to collapse”.

Islamic State of Iraq: “If US Bombs Iraq, Every American Citizen is a Target”

Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff Leaves Open Idea of Cooperation with Iran

One of the things we need to find out is whether Iran is embedded in and advising and supporting the Iraqi security forces. It is really about understanding facts on the ground before we make a decision on how to address them.”

We will look at Iran with a cold eye on where and when we may need to operate in the same space and toward what is potentially the same goal of countering (the insurgency).

The General then stepped back:

I can state with some assurance that their goals in Iraq are not going to be completely aligned with ours, and we’re very clear about that.

I’m not predicting that it’s entirely impossible that we would at any point act collaboratively with Iran. But there’s a long way to go between here and there, in my judgment.

About The Author

Scott Lucas is Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham and editor-in-chief of EA WorldView. He is a specialist in US and British foreign policy and international relations, especially the Middle East and Iran. Formerly he worked as a journalist in the US, writing for newspapers including the Guardian and The Independent and was an essayist for The New Statesman before he founded EA WorldView in November 2008.